Rosé Round-Up

As we find ourselves at the peak of Rosé season the ratings for this year's batch have finally been released. We are pleased to find that many of our selections have earned rave reviews. Rosé wines are crisp and refreshing, they are perfect for the hot summer weather. They pair well with a wide variety of food including grilled meats, seafood and chicken. So remember to Think Pink this summer, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Here are a few of our favorite Rosé wines:

2009 Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Rosé
91 points - Stephen Tanzer’s I.W.C.
“Pale copper-pink. Fresh strawberry and redcurrant aromas are underscored by zesty minerals. Becomes more floral with air, picking up notes of honeysuckle and cinnamon. Offers gently sweet red fruit and floral flavors, with good stony cut and back-end spiciness. A deceptively powerful wine with admirable finishing clarity and mineral-driven length.” ~(ST)

2009 Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Rosé
91 Points - Stephen Tanzer’s I.W.C.
“Bright, orange-tinged pink. Lively, precise aromas of pink grapefruit, wild strawberry and musky herbs, with a dusty mineral undertone. Light-bodied and brisk on entry, gaining flesh and weight in the mid-palate and offering tangy citrus and subtle red berry flavors. The mineral element adds cut to the juicy, gently spicy, lingering finish, which repeats the pink grapefruit note. I'd give this another year of bottle age to lose its primary, citrus-dominated character.” ~(ST)

2009 Commanderie de Peyrassol Cotes de Provence Rosé
90 Points - Stephen Tanzer’s I.W.C.
“Extremely pale salmon skin color. Fresh cranberry, strawberry and rhubarb aromas are impressively precise and lively. Light on its feet, offering incisive, mineral-driven red berry and bitter citrus zest flavors that gain flesh and weight with aeration. A vaguely sweet raspberry note lingers on the long, juicy finish. I really like this wine's blend of vivacity and fruitiness.” ~(ST)

2009 Bodegas Muga Rioja Rosé
90 Points - Stephen Tanzer’s I.W.C.
60% garnacha, 30% viura and 10% tempranillo
“Vivid pink. Complex, highly aromatic bouquet of pink grapefruit, strawberry, rhubarb and white flowers, with a strong mineral undertone. Bright, racy red berry flavors are given a tangy edge by citrus zest and white pepper, with the mineral quality adding lift and cut. Finishes suave, spicy and long, with excellent thrust.” ~(ST)

Other favorites include:
2009 Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence Rosé
(89 Points - Stephen Tanzer’s I.W.C.)
2009 Domaines Ott Cotes de Provence Rosé Chateau de Selle
(89 Points - Stephen Tanzer’s I.W.C.)
2009 A Donkey and Goat Winery Grenache Rosé
(89 Points - Stephen Tanzer’s I.W.C.)
2009 Chateau de Lancyre Pic St. Loup Rosé
(89 Points - Stephen Tanzer’s I.W.C.)
2009 Mulderbosch Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé
(88 Points - Stephen Tanzer’s I.W.C.)

Branchville Benefit (July 24, 2010)

The Branchville Benefit took place this past Saturday. Proceeds from the event were donated to The Ridgefield Playhouse, R.O.A.R., Ridgefield Music and Arts Center and the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Department. Ancona’s Market did a phenomenal job preparing a menu of Montana Ranch Sirloin Steak, Italian Style Roasted Pig, and Organic Greens and Vegetables. There was also a Raw Bar and wonderful assortment of Local Artistan Cheeses and Meats. Palm beer was served on tap as well as a wide variety of wines from Benziger Vineyards. It was an evening full of exquisite food, music and friends.

Thank you to all who came out to support the cause. We hope next year’s benefit will be just as wonderful as this year!

World's Strongest Beer

Beers with high alcohol content are making their way across the Atlantic to the United States. Strap yourselves in, these high octane beers are built for speed and are not for the weak. Breweries boast numbers ranging from 12% to a remarkable 41% alcohol.

A history textbook worthy war has been waged over who can brew the strongest beer. The Scottish brewery BrewDog and the German brewery Schorschbrau both showcase an unwavering determination to snag the title of the “World’s Strongest Beer”.

At the moment, BrewDog has the title with their “Sink the Bismarck!” containing 41% alcohol. Not far behind is Schorschbrau’s “Schorschbock” containing 40% alcohol. Both breweries have beers with a matched 32% alcohol; BrewDog’s “Tactical Nuclear Penguin” and Schorschbrau’s original “Schorschbock”.

As for now, we hope to be seeing BrewDog’s “Sink the Bismark!” and “Tactical Nuclear Penguin” on our shelves soon. In the mean time feel free to prepare yourself with BrewDog’s “Tokyo” containing 18.2% alcohol or their “Devine Rebel” containing a modest 13.2%.